Good track record helps Hossa escape suspension

Marian Hossa's history of being a good citizen on the ice was one of the reasons he escaped a suspension for boarding Nashville's Dan Hamhuis late in Game 5 on Saturday.

Colin Campbell, the NHL's chief disciplinarian, conducted a hearing with Hossa on Sunday before deciding against suspending the Blackhawks' star winger.

Hossa will be in the lineup Monday night at Bridgestone Arena for Game 6 when the Hawks try to close out their first-round playoff series with the Predators.

Campbell reviewed video of the hit that occurred with 1:03 to play in the third period Saturday and spoke with Hossa, who received a five-minute major penalty for boarding but was not ejected.

The Hawks trailed 4-3 at the time of the penalty, but they tied the game on Patrick Kane's short-handed goal with 13.6 seconds to play in regulation and wound up winning 5-4 when Hossa came out of the penalty box to score in overtime.

"This play is distinguishable from recent incidents by a number of factors," Campbell said, "including the degree of contact involved, the fact that the consequences of the play do not appear to be as severe, that this was a hockey play involving a race for the puck, that Mr. Hossa is not a repeat offender, and that the call of a major penalty by the referee was significant and appropriate."

Predators coach Barry Trotz compared what Hossa did to Alex Ovechkin's shove from behind on Brian Campbell on March 14 that broke Campbell's collarbone.

Ovechkin was ejected from that game and suspended for Washington's next two games.

Hamhuis didn't finish Saturday's game, which only lasted a little more than five minutes following the incident. Hamhuis practiced with the Predators on Sunday and said he was sore but expected to play in Game 6.

"I thought from our standpoint it merited a suspension and a game misconduct, but the league didn't, so we move on," Predators general manager David Poile told the Nashville Tennessean on Sunday. "(The hit) is not why we lost the game the other night. The only thing that matters is how we play (Monday)."

The Hawks didn't practice Sunday, and Hossa was not available for comment after the decision came down.

Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said Sunday before the hearing that he didn't believe Hossa deserved a suspension and that the play differed from what Ovechkin did to Campbell last month.

"Ovechkin hit Soupy hard; (Campbell) he didn't have the puck and it was a dangerous hit," Quenneville said. "(Hossa's hit), we have the goalie out (for a sixth attacker), he (Hamhuis) has got the puck; it wasn't from behind, so you can look at it a lot of different ways.

"He's got to know we're coming. We've got the goalie out and we're pressing."

Ovechkin also was a repeat offender, while Hossa has a clean track record when it comes to dirty play.

"I think part of it is your track record," Quenneville said. "That is part of the criteria as far as when they look at situations.

"Repeat offenders get maybe looked at more severe, but Hoss is probably the most solid player you want. He plays hard, but physically I think he's smart in those areas. I think his track record verifies that."

<p class="factboxheadblack">Colin Campbell statement on Marian Hossa penalty</p>

<p class="News">TORONTO - National Hockey League Executive Vice President and Director of Hockey Operations Colin Campbell issued the following statement after conducting a hearing with Chicago Blackhawks forward Marian Hossa earlier today into the major penalty for boarding assessed to Hossa in yesterday's Game 5 of the Conference Quarterfinal series against the Nashville Predators:</p>

<p class="News"> "I have made the decision that this play does not warrant supplemental discipline after considering all of the facts, including reviewing the video and speaking with Mr. Hossa. This play is distinguishable from recent incidents by a number of factors, including the degree of contact involved; the fact that the consequences of the play do not appear to be as severe; that this was a hockey play involving a race for the puck; that Mr. Hossa is not a repeat offender and that the call of a major penalty by the Referee was significant and appropriate."</p>

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